British Food Fortnight

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they supported British Food Fortnight.

Lord Bach: Defra's support for British Food Fortnight in the past two years has come through the funding that it has made available to Food from Britain (FFB) to deliver a range of activities in support of the quality regional food sector in England. Wherever possible, FFB has supported British Food Fortnight by ensuring that the activities that it delivers in support of quality regional food sector coincide with the fortnight.
	In addition, last year FFB funded the production of a guide that included information on how retailers and the food service sector could support British Food Fortnight. The guide also included information on how buyers could source quality regional food and drink and the importance of linking tourism with quality regional food and drink. This year, FFB funded an update of the guide and provided "in kind" public relations support that helped generate substantial media coverage for British Food Fortnight. According to figures provided by the organisers of British Food Fortnight, the guide was distributed to 24,000 shops, pubs and restaurants.
	As well as funding from Defra, both the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Department of Health have provided seed corn funding to British Food Fortnight. The funding has been used to produce resource packs for schools which contain guidance and suggestions to schools for activities about healthy British foods and link to the Healthy Schools programme, Food in Schools programme, School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme and 5-a-day programme. This year, DfES publicised British Food Fortnight on its Growing Schools website.

British Food Fortnight

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What range of organisations, producers, schools and shops took part in British Food Fortnight.

Lord Bach: Although the Government have supported British Food Fortnight in a number of ways, it is an independently run initiative and we do not hold the information requested.
	From the information made available by the organisers of British Food Fortnight we understand that a large number of organisations representing farmers, food producers, rural businesses and the food service sector took part in this event. Figures from the organisers show that information on how to incorporate food-related activities into the national curriculum was sent to 26,000 schools and that 24,000 shops, pubs and restaurants were given details on sourcing and promoting British produce.

China: Military Spending

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the recent increases in military spending by the Chinese People's Liberation Army to an estimated annual budget of $90 billion.

Lord Drayson: We have assessed that actual Chinese defence spending is around three times the official figure of $30 billion at the current exchange rate. The increases have been primarily allocated to developing China's defence industry and to defence equipment procurement.

CITES Regulations

Lord Skelmersdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to lay replacement Control of Trade in Endangered Species regulations.

Lord Bach: We expect to lay a replacement for the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 in the spring.

Developing Countries: Scientists

Baroness Northover: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they have taken in the training of scientists in or from developing countries, particularly in translational research, to ensure the retention of science graduates in their home countries.

Baroness Amos: DfID is committed to strengthening capacity at all levels in developing countries. We support training for students, including scientists, both in country and in the UK, though centrally supported research programmes and through the Commonwealth Fellowship and Scholarship programme.
	A tracking exercise of the Commonwealth programme established that well over 90 per cent. of graduates in fact return home. We have encouraged the Commonwealth programme to increase split-site courses. We have also encouraged it to increase the amount of distance learning scholarships that it provides, obviating the need for scholars to leave their country at all.

England Rural Development Programme

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To what extent the geographical targeting proposals in the new England Rural Development Programme proposed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are consistent with the non-geographical targeting suggested by the Department of Trade and Industry for the next round of Objective 2 funding.

Lord Bach: No targeting proposals, geographical or otherwise, have yet been made for the successor to the England Rural Development Programme, which will run from 2007 until 2013. Objectives for the successor Rural Development Programme have yet to be agreed. However, we will want the programme to focus on key policy priorities to ensure that it delivers value for money and effective outcomes; so appropriate targeting of the programme's resources will be necessary. Proposed objectives and targets for the successor Rural Development Programme will be subject to a public consultation that will begin either towards the end of this year or in early 2006.
	Similarly, negotiations on the next round of structural funds are ongoing, and the arrangements for future programmes are still unknown. However, irrespective of the arrangements finally agreed, we will want to ensure that future EU regional policy targets assistance in a way that makes a real contribution to shared EU goals as set out by the Lisbon and Gothenburg agendas.

Illegal Timber

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any estimate of the amount of illegally logged timber arriving in the United Kingdom; and, if so, what is that estimate.

Lord Bach: We know that the UK is the world's fourth largest importer of wood products. However, with the exception of unlicensed species included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) we are unable to estimate how much illegally logged timber is coming into the UK, as timber is not identified as legal or illegal at ports of entry. That will change, however, with the implementation of the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation, which recently reached political agreement. It will prohibit the entry into the EU of illegal timber products from countries that enter into partnership agreements with the European Union.

NHS Dentistry

Baroness Harris of Richmond: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many trainee dentists joined (a) National Health Service primary care practices; and (b) each primary care trust in north and east Yorkshire and the Humber in the latest 12 months for which figures are available.

Lord Warner: Out of some 630 vocational trainee dental practitioners appointed to National Health Service dental practices in England in 2005, the numbers in each primary care trust in the North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Strategic Health Authority are shown in the table.
	General dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS)
	Number of vocational dental practitioners (VDPs) by primary care trust in the North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Strategic Health Authority area who started training during the year ending 30 September 2005
	
		
			 Primary Care Trust Total Number of VDPs 
			 Craven, Harrogate and Rural District 2 
			 East Yorkshire 1 
			 Eastern Hull 4 
			 Hambleton and Richmondshire 4 
			 North-East Lincolnshire 1 
			 North Lincolnshire 4 
			 Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale 4 
			 Selby and York 7 
			 West Hull 3 
			 Yorkshire Wolds and Coast 2 
		
	
	Notes:
	The number of VDPs who started training in each PCT between 1 October and 30 September. One VDP had contracts in both the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale PCT and the West Hull PCT and is counted in both areas.
	The postcode of the dental practice was used to allocate dentists to specific geographical areas. PCT areas have been defined using the Office for National Statistics All Fields Postcode Directory.
	Source: Dental Practice Board

Omega 3 Oils

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What research is being carried out to develop sources other than fish for omega 3 oils.

Lord Bach: Defra supports a programme of research to enhance levels of long-chain omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in meat and milk as alternatives to fish oils in consumer diets. The research contributes to government nutrition and health objectives set out in The Health of the Nation public health White Paper. Some £4.9 million has been spent on the research programme since it was initiated in 1995.
	In addition, UK researchers are involved in an EU-funded sixth framework project to tackle metabolic syndrome, including tendency to coronary heart disease. It aims to create alternative plant sources (linseed oil) of long-chain omega 3-using genes from marine algae. Animal nutrition research on feeding poultry these modified oils aims to increase the supply of omega 3-enriched poultry meats.
	I have arranged for copies of completed projects or, where they are commercially confidential, executive summaries and descriptions of ongoing projects to be placed in the House Libraries.

Parachute Regiment

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which department will bear the costs of the trial of the seven members and former members of the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (OJAG Case 2005/59).

Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence will bear the costs of the trial, although the Judge Advocate General's salary is paid from the Consolidated Fund and not from any department's voted budget.

Salmon Fishing

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was their input at the last North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) meeting in June concerning drift netting for salmon in Irish waters; whether any further representations have been made to NASCO; and whether they have made representations to the Government of the Irish Republic to curtail their drift netting operations.

Lord Bach: The EU delegation stated its position on coastal salmon fisheries in its opening address and in subsequent negotiations at the NASCO annual meeting in June. It indicated that the problem was coming under control in member states but that some problems persisted. It had therefore commissioned a report,
	"to examine these fisheries in EU waters and see what else needs to be done".
	It indicated that if it proved necessary it was,
	"fully committed to taking measures to reduce these fisheries or even to consider whether these fisheries should be brought to a complete end".
	The UK has supported that approach. No representations have been made to NASCO subsequent to the annual meeting in June. UK scientists led the initial preparation of the EU review of mixed stock fisheries for Atlantic salmon in European Community waters, excluding the Baltic Sea, which was submitted to the European Commission in August. We are not aware what progress has been made by the European Commission since then.

Salmon Fishing

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What emergency measures to manage and control salmon stocks in the waters of the Irish Republic have been introduced since the last North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) meeting in June.

Lord Bach: We are not aware of any emergency measures having been introduced to,
	"manage and control salmon stocks in the waters of the Irish Republic"
	since the last North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation meeting in June. We understand that the coastal fishery failed to take the quota that had been set.

Schools: Personalised Learning

Baroness Sharp of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How schools will be assessed on the planning and delivery of intensive catch-up support where needed under the personalised learning reforms; whether primary schools will be assessed by Ofsted in the same way as secondary schools; and what proportion of the total funding is likely to go to primary schools.

Lord Adonis: Under our reforms for personalisation, school improvement partners and the new Ofsted inspection regime will challenge every school to demonstrate effective planning and delivering of tailored teaching and learning for every child, in particular for pupils who have fallen behind age-related expectations. We also expect all local authorities under their duty to raise educational standards to use their national strategies consultants and other school improvement staff to promote, monitor and spread best practice about personalisation of learning to ensure that all schools meet the needs of parents and pupils in their area.
	Ofsted will use the same framework to inspect primary and secondary schools. During inspections, inspectors will evaluate how well teaching and resources promote learning and address the full range of learners' needs and the extent to which programmes or activities match learners' aspirations and potential, building on their prior attainment and experience.
	Our White Paper, Higher Standards, Better Schools for All—More Choice for Parents and Pupils, published on 25 October, set out an additional £60 million in each of 2006–07 and 2007–08 that would be available to authorities to enable them to support the schools in primary and secondary sectors that had the greatest number of pupils who had fallen behind and faced the greatest challenges in improving their performance. The White Paper also announced £335 million, specifically earmarked in the dedicated schools grant (DSG), to be invested by 2007–08 to provide secondary schools with the resources to deliver personalised learning for 11 to 14 year-olds. Details of the methodology used to distribute the funding between local authorities and the actual allocations for each authority will be announced as part of the wider announcement on school funding allocations for 2006–07 and 2007–08 later in the year. Guidance for local authorities on the distribution of funding between schools will be made available at the same time.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What impact the latest upsurge in violence in Darfur is likely to have on humanitarian operations.

Baroness Amos: The UN estimates that 3.4 million people in Darfur are in need of humanitarian assistance. In recent weeks there has been a marked increase in violence perpetrated against civilians and attacks on humanitarian and commercial convoys throughout Darfur. There has also been a significant increase in clashes between the belligerent parties.
	Road access for humanitarian agencies in west Darfur has been all but cut by persistent banditry. The UN has positioned air transport in Geneina to meet urgent humanitarian needs and is confident that essential operations can be maintained. In central Darfur, the upsurge in active fighting has seen news waves of localised displacement. The UN is confident that it can meet immediate humanitarian needs with existing resources. Contingency planning for prolonged disruption is under way by the humanitarian agencies.
	We have made it consistently clear to all sides that the resumption of violence is unacceptable and that attacks must cease. The AU-mediated Abuja talks are the only prospect for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. We fully support that process, at which a UK observer is present.